Building-block.



PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

H. s. PALMER. BUILDING BLOCK.

APPLIGATION FILBD MALI), 1905.

UNITED STATES PA ENT ewes.

HARMON S. PALMER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AS-

SIGNOR TO HARMON' S. PALMER HOLLOW CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK COMPANY, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A

CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

To (1/1], 10700111. it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARMON S. PALMER, of \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Building Blocks or Stones; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building-block embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of the same in position in a wall, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of a different construction embodying my invention.

The object of my invention is to so construct building-blocks, especially those of artiticial stone, that discoloration of the surface of the blocks from water will be prevented and at the same time a stronger and better-looking wall obtained; and to this end my invention consists in the block or stone constructed substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

\Valls or buildings of artificial stone or cement or concrete building-blocks as heretofore made by reason of the percolation of water through the stones and the dissolving out by the water of the mortar or cement between the stones are defaced or stained by streaks or lines down the face or outer surface of the stone, the water passing out between the joints of the stones dissolving and carrying with it the salts and particles of the cement or mortar in the joints. The outward passage of the water between the joints, it may be remarked, instead of its percolation down through the stones is due to the failure of the stones to set level, so that their upper sides incline outward and downward, with the natural result that the water will flow over their upper sides outward and thence down over the face or outer surface of the stones.

In the carrying of my invention into practice in one embodiment thereof I form the upper side of the stone or block with a depression that extends from each side of the block or stone inward and downward, which depression, as shown, may be in the form of a concavity a, so that the edges of the block or stone at the sides thereof are higher than any other point or surface onthe upper side of the block, the result being that water per- -invention to obviate.

colating or passing through one stone or block to the one below it will gravitate or pass away from the sides of the block or stone toward the middle of the top thereof, and thus be prevented from passing out between the joints to the sides of the stone or block.

As a matter of convenience in placing the stones or blocks in the wall both top and bottom thereof are provided with the de pressions; but, if desired, the one depression may be employed, in which event of course care will be required in setting the block to get the depression uppermost. The presence of the depression in the block or stone, besides preventingthe soiling or staining of the face of the block by the dripping or passage over it of the dissolved mortar, is also of importance in that as a cavity or chamber is thereby provided between the blocks a quantity of mortar or cement can be employed that will make a strong bond and yet the appearance 'of the wall will not only not be marred or objectionably affected by reason of the presence of the mortar or cement, but, on the contrary, a clean fine joint can be secured, because the edges of the abutting blocks or stones can be placed closer together than is possible where the abutting surfaces are flat surfaces with a body of cement or mortar between them of uniform thickness.

In usingblocks with depressions or concavities it is important that the cement or mortar used be not harder or less porous than the blocks, for it will be evident that if water after percolating through a block encounters cement or mortar, through which the water will not readily pass, the water will flow outward between the under side of the block and the upper surface of the cement or mortar in the joint to the face of the wall, and thus result in the conditions which it is the object of my Should a mortar or cement be employed harder or less porous than the blocks, the object of my invention can be secured by making the bottom of the block bulging or conveXthat is to say, by inclining such bottom from the sides inward and downward, as illustrated in Fig. 3. With this arrangement it will be apparent that the upper surface of the mortar or cement in the joint will incline inward and downward, and the water failing to percolate through the mortar or cement will gravitate inward and downward away from the outer surface of the block.

Hollow artificial blocks or stones, which are stones perforated by one or more vertical slots or openings, are admirablysuited for the employment of my invention, because in the vertical holes or openings in the central portion of the block there exist passages for the water that flows inward.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the employment of any particular form of depression in the block or stone, as there may be variations of this which will involve no departure from the principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A building block or stone having a mortar-engaging surface which, with the mortar, forms a downwardly and inwardly inclined water -passage all portions of such passage from the outer surface of the block being lower than the beginning of such passage at the outer side of the block.

2. A building block or stone having a mortar-engaging surface, which, with the mortar, forms a downwardly and inwardly inclined water-passage and provided with an internal, vertical opening to which the passage delivers water the highest point of such water-passage being at the outside of the block whereby water is prevented from passing to the outer face of the block.

3. A building block or stone having a mortar-engaging surface that is lower at one point than at another and inclines between such points to cause water to pass downward and inward and having an linternal, vertical opening that leads from the lowest point of such surface.

4. A building block or stone having a depression or cavity in its side that abuts or adjoins another block or stone and having an in ternal, vertical opening that leads from the lowest point of the depression.

5. A building block or stone, having a dished upper side all points of the dished surface within the block being lower than the point where the dishing begins at the outer side of the block.

6. A building-block of artificial stone, vertically perforated, and having a dished upper surface from whose lowermost point the perforation starts.

7. A wall composed of stones, one above another, and mortar or cement between them, with the abutting surfaces of mortar and stone inclined inward and downward such abutting surface from the outside of the stone inward being successively lower and lower so that within the stone there are no points of the abutting surfaces higher than at the outer face of the stones.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

HARE ION S. PALMER.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. J. WILLIAMSON, JosnrnINn L. LAWLOR. 

